Beyond Anti-fascism, But Not Without It, update

by diggers16 on January 24, 2018

Thank you to those who have responded to the Beyond Anti-fascism, But Not Without Itstatement/call put out by the Perspectives on Anarchist Theory journal collective. Clearly there are many people pursuing this conversation in a variety of networks. Stay tuned for pieces coming from Perspectives on the Institute for Anarchist Studies website and in our 2018 Beyond the Crisis print issue.

“The subtle and deadly change of heart that might occur in you would be involved with the realization that a civilization is not destroyed by wicked people; it is not necessary that people be wicked but only that they be spineless.” ― James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time

If you would like to write on the subject of Beyond Anti-fascism, But Not Without It (a nod to Anarchist Panther Ashanti Alston), or know of good things that have been published on this theme, drop us a line, at: PerspectivesOnAnarchistTheory@Gmail.com

Also, longtime anarchist, former political prisoner, theorist, and organizer Lorenzo Kom’boa Ervin has been going through a lot lately, including financial difficulties, transportation issues, and medical expenses. Casey Goonan is calling on folks to do fundraising for him. Casey writes: “Lorenzo’s life’s work opened a path forward for anti-capitalist, anti-racist, and anti-patriarchy organizing in geographies where the non-profit and academic industrial complexes have thoroughly co-opted the progressive-to-radical Left. He needs to survive. White supremacy must be abolished—both external and internal to progressive and radical movements in the global North. This internal racism needs to be placed at the center of our analysis and movement building politics, and smashed. This is happening in disparate pockets, but it needs to happen on a mass scale, and Lorenzo’s writings show us the way!

First, his book, the Progressive Plantation, and second his Anarchism and the Black Revolution. These two texts are invaluable, and have been re-circulating once again as the new Black protest movement has ebbed and flowed over the past five years, and since antifascist organizing has entered new levels of visibility in the ‘mainstream.’ To quote a recent post of Lorenzo’s:

“I have been thinking about my life now more than ever, the older I get. I don’t know about you, but after ‘life’ in prison, then organizing for 50 years with various movements, fighting the KKK in Tennessee, Georgia, and other places, existing in poverty for most of my life, and just generally working to help someone else instead of just myself, there is not much more that I fear, but a lot that I wish I could still do.”

Please consider contributing to building this campaign. It can be decentralized organizing (preferably). We can do things in our own autonomous capacities. We just need to keep Lorenzo alive! His intellectual and political leadership is invaluable. If you can help, please send a donation to organize.the.hood@gmail.com via paypal.com ”

Solidarity!

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

The views expressed herein solely belong to the author(s) and are not necessarily representative of Perspectives on Anarchist Theory, the Institute for Anarchist Studies, or members of its Board of Directors.

About the IAS

The Institute for Anarchist Studies (IAS), a nonprofit foundation established in 1996 to support the development of anarchism, is a grant-giving organization for radical writers and translators worldwide. To date, we have funded some ninety projects by authors from countries around the world, including Argentina, Lebanon, Canada, Chile, Ireland, Nigeria, Germany, South Africa, and the United States. Equally important, we publish the Anarchist Interventions book series in collaboration with AK Press and Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative, the online journal Perspectives on Anarchist Theory, and the new Lexicon pamphlet series as well as organize the Renewing the Anarchist Tradition conference and offer the Mutual Aid Speakers List. The IAS is part of a larger movement to radically transform society as well. We are internally democratic and work in solidarity with people around the globe who share our values.